Electrotyper&#39;s case



Sept- 8, 1953 G. w. BUNGAY 2,651,614

ELECTROTYPERS CASE Filed Dec. 16, 1949 Patented Sept. 8, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT LOFFICE ELECTROTYPERS" CASE :George W. Bun'gay, New York, N. Y.,assig'n1:|i to Electrographic Corporation, New York, N. vY., a corporation of Delaware- 'Application'December 16, 1949, Serial No. 133,345

The present invention'relates to-anoveland improved electrotypers case for the electrodeposition of curved shells.

Objects and advantages'ofthe invention-will be set forth in 'part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and'attainedby means of theinstrumentalities and combinations pointed out inthe appended claims.

The` invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements hereinv shown'and described.

'The accompanying drawingsreferred'to herein and constituting apart hereof,'i1lustrate one embodiment ofthe invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a typical and illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a rear perspective v iew'of the parts shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detailed vertical section taken on the line 3--3 of Figure 1. y

Figure 4 is a cross sectional' View taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 2; and

Figure 5 is a detailed perspective view of one of the hooks shown also in Figures 1, 2` and 3.

The present inventionhas for its object'the provision of an improved curved electrotypers case for the formation of shells 'for curved or -arcuate printing plates which 'will be properly registered when they are completed `ready for printing. A further object is Athe provislong'of a case which will hol'd'the molds accuratelyito the desired curvature during the `electrode'posi tlon'operation and thereby reduce the amount of correction 'needed on vthe shell when lit is backed. The invention further provides a curved case which securely holds the electrotypin'g' mold with a minimum of parts and which `can be simply and rapidly loaded with the mold to be plated.

The present invention iinds its 'greatest'fleld -of usefulness in'the production of electrot'ype shells for arcuate printing plates which are tobe backed while they are still in the curved condition. Durlng the backing operation several of theshells may be joined together to form a cylinderwhich is supported in a suitable casting mold and rapiidly rotated while the molten metal is pured onto 'the back of 'the'shells'so' that the'backing metal congeals while itis subjected to `relatively `3 Claims. .(Cl. MII-'297) 2 great centrifugal force.

stretching'of the plate as it is bent from ia ilat plate -to acurved plate, is thus completely avoided inasmuch-as the curvature ofthe finished plate is at least substantially the same'as the-curvature of the shell as it is deposited. The mold may be of material which is suiliciently vthnfsothat "the change in register on the face of the moldfrom its flat condition, as molded, to its curved condition, as used for deposition, is almost' negligible and in any event is uniform.

"The electrotype molds for the production of printing platesy are preferablyformd of 'a rela tively thin sheet of some thermoplastic resinous material, such 'as la flexible and toughfsheet of a copolymer of vinyl acetate and vinyl chloride of 'substantial thickness and preferably 'from about .U30 to about .100 inch thick. These moldsare relatively smooth on one side and on the other side bear the 'accurately molded matrix reproduction ofthe letterpress or relief" printing plate to be reproduced `by electrotyping. The matrix, or design-bearing faceof the thermoplas-ticfsheet is `provided with a thin'iilm of silver or "other conductive-material landis then subjected to the conventional process of relectrodepositicn, in which a substantial layer of copper, oftentimes about .020 in thickness is 'deposited on the layer of silver so as to form the shell which islater to be backed up wlth-theusual leadalloy-as lattacking metal. The deposition of the'copper onthe conductive layer of the mold may be preceded, if desired, bythe 'depositionof athlnfliash layer cfa more durable metal,l such as nickel. v"I'he curvature ofthe mold while it is' being subjected to electrodepositio'n is preferv ably approximately the same Has thecurvature towhich the finished'plate is to be formed A:for printing. Thus/themolds for'theshells which are to form printing plates to be printed on 'cyl--` inders of from 14.0 to '16'.0inches diameterA may be plated while curved to a diameter of-about 15.0.nc'hes. 'Thusthetotal register error lwhen curved-to 14-.0 or A16.0 inches Willnotord-inarily.

backed, atcolor plates is often thea'principalv Theprincipal cause-ofl incorrect register in a curved plate, luieveh cause of their being seriously out of register, often to an extent suiiicient to render them unusable.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an arcuate, or parti-cylindrical rigid supporting member or rigid sheet having a mold retaining member along one of its axially extending edges, with a plurality of hooks or clamps along another of itsedges, the'concave surface of the case being adapted to receive a mold which is resiliently urged against the concave surface by the arcuately movable clamps. means are provided for forming electrical connection with the silver-plated surface of the mold, while the clamps not only hold'the-mold against slipping vertically on the case while suspended in the plating bath, but also serve to hold the Suitablemold firmly against the concave side of the case and to conform the mold accurately to the concave curvature of the mold, thereby minimizing bodiment of the present invention, the drawing` shows a typical and illustrative embodiment of the invention `as applied to the production of parti-cylindrical electrodeposited shells which may be as small as a quarter-cylinder or less, or may be as long as a f ull cylinder, in which latter event, the diameter ofthe mold during the plating operation would be very slightly larger than the diameter of theprinting plates to be formed from the shells plated on the molds.

- 'Ihe case, as illustrated, comprises a relatively heavy supporting sheet of insulating material IG which is relatively tough and rigid and is not subjectk to attack by the components of the plating baths. For this purpose, the sheet I0 may be formed of heavy phenolic-aldehyde condensation resin or of heavy copolymer of vinyl acetate andvinyl chloride so as to provide a portion of a kcylinder which hassuicient rigidity, stability and mechanical strength to maintain the desired degree of curvature. In most instances the sheet I0 Will be slightly longer than one-quarter circumference, and of a height suicient to receive the largest size of plate to be deposited. Thus,

for a plate to be l0" by 15" in size and curvedv about its l0" length as a quadrant of a 13 diameter cylinder, the case would be about 18 high and `have'an arcuate surface of about 12 or 13". For such a case, its thickness should be about 0.25 to 0.35" to provide the desired degree of rigidity and stability.

.Along one straight edge of the curved sheet l0 and on its concave side is secured a strip of similar rigid plastic material I2, one edge I4 of which is bevelled so as to receive the edge of the mold I6, which is to be positioned against the concave side of the support It. cured to the support I0 by any desired means, such as the stainless steel screws I8 4which pass through the sheet I0 and are threaded into the strip I2.

For urging the mold into a concave shape against and conforming to the concave face of the sheet I0, and for pressing the mold against the bevelled strip I2, means are provided for en' gaging and resiliently urging the mold along its opposite edge. For this purpose the sheet I0 is provided with two relatively deep slots 2tv near Bevelled strip I2 is seits edge opposite the strip I2 and extending at right angles to the strip I2. In each of these slots is positioned a clamp or hook member 22 having a bevelled face 24 and a slotted hole 26, the bevelled face being adapted to project through the slot 20 and to engage with an edge o the mold IB. For resiliently urging the hooks 22 towards the strip I2,V any desired spring means may be used, and in the preferred embodiment these comprise the long rubber bands 28 which are connected between the hole 26 on one hook and a wire hook 3B held to the rear face of the sheet I0 by means of the screw 32. The screws 32, the hooks 313V and the screws I8 are formed of the same material which is not readily attacked by the plating baths, and for this purpose the subv merged metal parts may be stainless steel.

Figure 4 illustrates the position of a mold I6 as it is clamped between the bevelled strip I2 and 36 comprising a conducting member 38 formedat its upper end Ywith a nger hole 39 for lifting the hook and case and a concave saddle for sup porting the hook and case on the bus bar 40, elec` trically connecting the hook and mold thereto. At its lower end member 38 is formed with a connecting pad 42 to make electrical connection with the metal strip 44 attached as usual to the silvered face of the mold and also with tapered pins I6 to pass through holes in the case I0 and mechanically connect the hook and case together. For forcing the pad 42 against the metal strips 44 toggle means are provided comprising a pivoted lclamping member 4B, a tongue 50 and a rotatable pressure member 52.

Figure 3 shows the toggle means in clamping position with the metal strips 44 supported on a rubber-pad k54 which is conveniently cemented to a case.

After the shell has been formed on the mold and the desired thickness of metal has been deposited, the shell and mold are removed from the case by releasing the hooks 22 and by releasing the strip 44 from the shell and mold. During this operation the hooks 22 may be engaged over. the edge of the sheet I0 so as to keep them from' interfering with removal of the mold and shell.

The invention in its broader aspects isv not.

limited to the specific mechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefrom4 within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing fromthe principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What is claimed is:

1. A curved electrotypers case comprising a supporting member having a cylindrical concave face, a curved top edge lying substantially in aplane transverse to the axis of curvature ofr said face, and side edges, said supporting member pro-- vided with spaced parallel slots along one side edge thereof and in transverse relationship to. the side edge of said supporting member, a hook` fastened adjacent said curved top edge of said supporting member for supporting and electrically connecting the case in an upright position, rigidly fixed holding means secured along one side edge-of said supporting member and parallel to the cylindrical axis for engaging one of the straight edges of a flexible mold on the concave face of the supporting member, releasable, resiliently urged hooks projecting through said Slots in said supporting member for engaging the other and parallel straight edge of the mold at spaced alined points for securing vthe mold on said member and for conforming the mold to the concave face, and tension members on the convex side of the supporting member for urging said hooks into tight engagement with one of the side edges of a :flexible mold.

2. A curved electrotypers case comprising a supporting member having a cylindrical concave face, a curved top edge lying substantially in a plane transverse to the axis of curvature of said face, and side edges, said supporting member provided with spaced parallel slots along one side edge thereof and in transverse relationship to the side edge of said supporting member, a hook fastened adjacent said curved top edge of said supporting member for supporting and electrically connecting the case in an upright position, rigidly xed holding means secured along one side edge of said supporting member and parallel to the cylindrical axis for engaging one of the straight edges of a flexible mold on the concave face of the supporting member, said holding means having the plate engaging portion thereof bevelled to receive the edge of the mold, releasable, resiliently urged hooks projecting through said slots in said supporting member for engaging the other and parallel straight edge of the mold at spaced alined points for securing the mold on said member and for conforming the mold to the concave face, said hooks provided with bevelled edges opposite to the bevelled edges of said holding means, and rubber bands mounted on the convex side of the supporting member and secured in an upright position, rigidly fixed holding means f secured along one side edge of said supporting member and on said concave face and parallel to the cylindrical axis for engaging one of the straight edges of a flexible mold on the concave face of the supporting member and a plurality of releasable hook means each resiliently urged to move in separate planes transverse to the axis of curvature and along said concave face and positioned along the opposite side edge of the supporting member and on the concave face for engaging the other and parallel straight edge of the mold at spaced alined points for securing the mold on said member and for conforming the mold to the concave face.

GEORGE W. BUNGAY.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 23,836 Elliot May 3, 1859 893,659 Satterlee July 21, 1908 1,350,758 Welsh Aug. 24, 1920 1,534,918 Claybourn Apr. 21, 1925 1,747,165 Eaton Feb. 18, 1930 2,074,335 Kelley Mar. 23, 1937 2,190,440 Beebe Feb. 13, 1940 2,350,993 Aigner June 13, 19441 

1. A CURVED ELECTROTYPER''S CASE COMPPRISING A SUPPORTING MEMBER HAVING A CYLINDRICAL CONCAVE FACE A CURVED TOP EDGE LYYING SUBSTANTIALLY IN A PLANE TRANSVERSE TO THE EDGE AXIS OF CURVATURE OF SAID FACE, AND SIDE EDGES, AND SUPPORTING MEMBER PROVIDED WITH SPACED PARALLEL SLOTS ALONG ONE SIDE EDGE THEREOF AND IN TRANSVERSE RELATIONSHIP TO THE SIDE EDGE OF SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER, A HOOK FASTENED ADJACENT SAID CURVED TOP EDGE OF SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER FOR SUPPORTING AND ELECTRICALLLY CONNECTING THE CASE IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION, RIGIDLY FIXED HOLDING MEANS SECURED ALONG ONE SIDE EDGE OF SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER AND PARALLEL TO THE CYLINDRICAL AXIS FOR ENGAGING ONE OF THE STRAIGHT EDGES OF A FLEXIBLE MOLD ON THE CONCAVE FACE OF THE SUPPORTING MEMBER, RELEASABLE, RESILIENTLY URGED HOOKS PROJECTING THROUGH SAID SLOTS IN SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER FOR ENGAGING THE OTHER AND PARALLEL STRAIGHT EDGE OF THE MOLD AT SPACED ALINED POINTS FOR SECURING THE MOLD ON SAID MEMBER AND FOR CONFORMING THE MOLD TO THE CONCAVE FACE, AND TENSION MEMBERS ON THE CONVEX SIDE OF THE SUPPORTING MEMBER FOR URGING SAID HOOKS INTO TIGHT ENGAGEMENT WITH ONE OF THE SIDE EDGES OF A FLEXIBLE MOLD. 